Buying a Second Hand Air Con Perth | J & C Electrical Contracting

SECOND HAND

AIR CONDITIONERS

Are you considering purchasing a second-hand air conditioner, or perhaps you've received one for free?

It might have been removed from a home that’s being demolished or renovated. Or maybe the previous owner upgraded to a newer model and is selling the old unit to help offset the cost of their new air conditioner.

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BUYER BEWARE!

Split system air conditioners are not designed to be removed and reinstalled once they've been installed. When purchasing a second-hand unit, you might not know its history or even be able to test if it’s still functional. If the previous owner upgraded their air conditioner, it’s likely because the old one was no longer performing efficiently.

Newer models come with advanced technology and use R32 refrigerant, which is more energy-efficient. Even if a qualified refrigeration mechanic removed the unit, there’s no guarantee that it will work properly once reinstalled, run efficiently, or last beyond 12 months.

Do you feel lucky?

Even if a second-hand air conditioner works initially after installation, there's a high chance of noticeable issues - noisy fans, low refrigerant levels, or reduced performance. While you might get lucky and it cools the room effectively at first, what happens after 6 months? It could stop cooling entirely or fail to turn on. By then, you’ve already spent $1000 (as an example) on installation for a unit with no warranty!

Air conditioners are not ideal for second-hand purchases if you're looking to save money; they can end up costing you far more in the long run. Unlike buying a used fridge, microwave, or TV, which you can easily test before buying and don’t require a licensed tradesperson to install, air conditioners are much riskier. Split systems have complex moving parts and are designed for a single installation. Once decommissioned and reinstalled, their performance is likely to degrade - especially if the unit is out of its original 5-year warranty.

Additionally, if the air conditioner is removed before its standard 5-year warranty period, that warranty becomes void, as it's only valid for the original installation address.

No Warranty with Second-Hand Installations

When installing a second-hand air conditioner, you won’t receive any warranty from the installer. However, you will still be responsible for their labour and material costs. In fact, installing a second-hand unit is often more difficult and more costly - than installing a brand-new air conditioner.

At J & C Electrical Contracting, we do not install second-hand split systems. We refuse to install any product without a valid warranty because, from a business perspective, it's too risky. Installing a product that may not function properly - or at all - after installation isn’t worth the potential cost to our customers or our reputation. We understand that no customer would want to pay for a service if the air conditioner fails after installation, which is why we avoid this risk altogether.

Consider the potential costs:

Buy a second-hand air conditioner (possibly free, or let’s say $150 from Marketplace)
Installation of second-hand unit: $1,000 (example cost)
Unit works but needs re-gassing: $280
Additional maintenance and service: $200
Next summer, the air conditioner stops cooling.
New air conditioner supply and installation: $1,650
Removal of the faulty unit: $150

Total cost for second-hand air conditioner: $3,430

Cost if you installed a new air conditioner from the start: $1,650

Note: All costs are for example purposes only and do not reflect actual pricing. Costs may vary depending on your specific needs. This example is based on a standard 2.5kW back-to-back installation.

Simply put, the risks of installing a second-hand air conditioner far outweigh the potential savings. Why take the gamble when the end result could cost you more?

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